I mean, Silkies were importer years ago. They were added to the first Standard in 1874. They are also super populous so there’s few breeding records. As to the deformities, I think lackadaisical breeding practices are to blame. Many Silkie breeders don’t notice/ignore, deformities in the birds they breed because of the feathering and also because it’s typically a breed that attracts newbies (no offense to the many experienced Silkie breeders of course.) I have clerked for a judge docked them left and right for crooked breasts. Crooked breasts all over the place, and wing deformities and a neck issue too I think! And the breeders had no idea. He barely found birds that didn’t have deformities. The winners he chose were not outwardly the most beautiful but they were the least deformed on the inside. I had to ask him to only dock rather than disqualify the crooked breasts because that is technically a severe defect not a disqualification in the Standard. It was his practice to disqualify them because he didn’t tolerate deformities.
It’s also possible that the extra modifying genes Silkies have for crests, extra toes, and feathered legs are to blame but I have nothing to back this idea up.
Ayam Cemanis are a young breed with a shallow breeding pool. Additionally they are often snatched up by irresponsible breeders trying to make a buck who don’t pay attention to undesirable genes cropping up, but the shallow pool does make for very little healthy birds to choose from.
